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At least 955 records · Page 53
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Energy barriers for Dy and H penetrating graphene on 6 H -SiC(0001) and freestanding bilayer graphene from first-principles calculations

Currently, intercalation of foreign guest atoms into two-dimensional (2D) layered van der Waals materials is an active research area motivated in part by the development of next-generation energy-storage technologies and optoelectronic devices. One such extensively studied 2D material is the graphene-on-SiC system. To realize and control the desired intercalated structures, it is fundamentally important to understand the kinetic process of intercalation. For the intercalation of a guest atom into graphene layers on SiC substrate, a critical kinetic parameter is the energy barrier of a guest atom penetrating the perfect graphene top layer into the gallery under it. However, accurate theoretical calculations for such penetration barriers are unavailable in literature. From our first-principles density functional theory calculations, we obtain the global energy barriers of 3.47 and 1.80 eV for single Dy and H atoms penetrating the graphene top layer on a graphene buffer layer supported by a Si-terminated 6H-SiC(0001) substrate, respectively. Furthermore, for comparison as well as for examining the lateral strain effects, we also obtain the global barriers of 5.05 and 1.50 eV for single Dy and H atoms penetrating freestanding bilayer graphene with a tensile strain of about 8.8% to match our model for supported graphene, as well as the global barriers of 7.21 and 4.18 eV for penetrating unstrained freestanding bilayer graphene, respectively. From corresponding minimum energy paths with multiple energy minima and saddle points, we can also obtain various local energy barriers and the global backward barrier from the graphene gallery back to the top surface.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2024

A new computational framework for spinor-based relativistic exact two-component calculations using contracted basis functions

Here, a new computational framework for spinor-based relativistic exact two-component (X2C) calculations is developed using contracted basis sets with a spin–orbit contraction scheme. Generally contracted, j-adapted basis sets of p-block elements using primitive functions in the correlation-consistent basis sets are constructed for the X2C Hamiltonian with atomic mean-field spin–orbit integrals (the X2CAMF scheme). The contraction coefficients are taken from atomic X2CAMF Hartree–Fock spinors, thereby following the simple concept of a linear combination of atomic orbitals. Benchmark calculations of spin–orbit splittings, equilibrium bond lengths, and harmonic vibrational frequencies demonstrate the accuracy and efficacy of the j-adapted spin–orbit contraction scheme.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Non-Hermitian quantum mechanics approach for extracting and emulating continuum physics based on bound-state-like calculations: Detailed description

Here, this work applies a reduced basis method to study the continuum physics of a finite quantum system—either few or many-body. Specifically, I develop reduced-order models, or emulators, for the underlying inhomogeneous Schrödinger equation and train the emulators against the equation's bound-state-like solutions at complex energies. The emulators rapidly and accurately interpolate and extrapolate the matrix elements of the Hamiltonian resolvent operator (Green's function) across a parameter space that includes both complex energy and other real-valued physical inputs in the Schrödinger equation. The spectra, discretized and compressed as the result of emulation, and the associated resolvent matrix elements (or amplitudes), have the defining characteristics of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics calculations, featuring complex eigenenergies with negative imaginary parts and branch cuts moved below the real axis in the complex energy plane. Therefore, one now has a method that extracts continuum physics from bound-state-like calculations and emulates those extractions in the input parameter space. Building on a prior Letter [Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 242501 (2025)], this article provides the full theoretical details, a comprehensive analysis of the method's performance, and a brief discussion of how it can be coupled with existing continuum approaches to perform emulations in their input parameter spaces.

ab initio calculations↗
DOE OSTI2026

Development of an ab initio learned model of electron deposition range in deuterium-tritium plasmas through time-dependent density functional theory calculations and machine learning

Accurate hydrodynamic modeling for laser-direct-drive (LDD) inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) relies on precise calculations of the electron thermal conduction in all target materials. The nonlocal stopping range of electrons in ICF plasmas directly influences thermal conduction; yet, no first principles model exists for the electron mean free path in the conduction-zone regime. This work utilized time-dependent stochastic density-functional theory (TD-sDFT) to calculate the electron stopping power in deuterium-tritium (DT) plasmas at (ρ, T) conditions relevant to the conduction zone and the compressed shell in ICF. Using a combination of our TD-sDFT data and already established analytical models, we developed and trained an artificial neural network to create a global model for the nonlocal electron deposition range, λ E . We compared our machine-learning (ML) based model for λ E to the currently-used modified-Lee-More model in LDD radiation-hydrodynamic codes, such as lilac, and saw an overall decrease in the deposition range. To understand the effects of λ E on LDD ICF implosion dynamics, we implemented the ML-based model into lilac; specifically, we looked at designs consistent with a current experiment on the OMEGA laser and for a newly designed LDD-ICF target for the future OMEGA-Next facility. In both cases, we saw an overall drop in predicted ablation pressure, peak areal density, and neutron yield due to the reduced thermal conduction (smaller λ E ) in DT plasmas. Comparisons with the experiment on OMEGA are also made.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of diagonal G and subspace W approximations within fully self-consistent GW calculations for bulk semiconducting systems

Fully self-consistent GW (sc-GW) methods are now available to evaluate quasiparticle and spectral properties of various molecular and bulk systems. However, such techniques based on the full matrix of G and W are computationally demanding. Additionally, the routinely used single-shot GW approximation (G 0 W 0 ) has an undesirable dependency on the choice of initial exchange-correlation functional. In the literature, many so-called self-consistent GW methods are based on diagonal approximation of G and low-ranking approximation of W. It is thus worth checking how good such approximations are in comparison with the full matrix method. In this work, we consider AlAs, AlP, GaP, and ZnS as the prototype systems to perform sc-GW calculations by expressing the full G matrix using a plane-wave basis set. We compared our sc-GW results with the diagonal G and subspace W approximated sc-GW results (sc-GW-diagG and sc-GW-subW methods). In the sc-GW-diagG method, interacting G is expanded in the eigenvectors of noninteracting G such that only diagonal elements are retained, whereas the number of eigenmodes is truncated in sc-GW-subW calculations. A systematic analysis of the results obtained from the above techniques is presented. The differences in the quasiparticle band gap between the approximated and the full matrix sc-GW approaches are mostly less than 1.7%, which validates such widely adopted approximations, and also shows how such low-ranking approximation can be used to include higher-order terms such as the vertex correction.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Starting-point-independent quantum Monte Carlo calculations of iron oxide

Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods are useful for studies of strongly correlated materials because they are many body in nature and use the physical Hamiltonian. Typical calculations assume as a starting point a wave function constructed from single-particle orbitals obtained from one-body methods, e.g., density functional theory. However, mean-field-derived wave functions can sometimes lead to systematic QMC biases if the mean-field result poorly describes the true ground state. In this study, we examine the accuracy and flexibility of QMC trial wave functions using variational and fixed-node diffusion QMC estimates of the total spin density and lattice distortion of antiferromagnetic iron oxide (FeO) in the ground state B1 crystal structure. We found that for relatively simple wave functions the predicted lattice distortion was controlled by the choice of single-particle orbitals used to construct the wave function, rather than by subsequent wave function optimization techniques within QMC. By optimizing the orbitals with QMC, we then demonstrate starting-point independence of the trial wave function with respect to the method by which the orbitals were constructed by demonstrating convergence of the energy, spin density, and predicted lattice distortion for two qualitatively different sets of orbitals. The results suggest that orbital optimization is a promising method for accurate many-body calculations of strongly correlated condensed phases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ab initio electronic density in solids by many-body plane-wave auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo calculations

We present accurate many-body results of the electronic densities in several solid materials, including Si, NaCl, and Cu. These results are obtained using the ab initio auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) method working in a plane-wave basis with norm-conserving, multiple-projector pseudopotentials. AFQMC has been shown to be an excellent many-body total energy method. Computation of observables and correlation functions other than the ground-state energy requires back-propagation, whose adaption and implementation in the plane-wave basis AFQMC framework are discussed in the present paper. This development allows us to compute correlation functions, electronic densities, and interatomic forces, paving the way for geometry optimizations and calculations of thermodynamic properties in solids. Finite supercell size effects are considerably more subtle in the many-body framework than in independent-electron calculations. We analyze the convergence of the electronic density, and obtain best estimates for the thermodynamic limit. The densities from several typical density functionals are benchmarked against our near-exact results. The electronic densities we obtained can also be used to help construct improved density functionals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Calculating the hyperfine tensors for group-IV impurity-vacancy centers in diamond using hybrid density functional theory

The hyperfine interaction is an important probe for understanding the structure and symmetry of defects in a semiconductor. Density functional theory has shown that it can provide useful first-principles predictions for both the hyperfine tensor and the hyperfine constants that arise from it. Recently there has been great interest in using group-IV impurity-vacancy color centers XV – (where X = Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb and V is a carbon vacancy) for important applications in quantum computing and quantum information science. In this paper we have calculated the hyperfine tensors for these XV – color centers using the HSE06 screened Hartree-Fock hybrid exchange-correlation functional with the inclusion of core electron spin polarization. We have compared our results to calculations which only use the PBE exchange-correlation functional without the inclusion of core electron spin polarization and we have found that our results are in very good agreement with available experimental results. Lastly, we have theoretically shown that these XV – color centers exhibit a Jahn-Teller distortion which explains the observed anisotropic distribution of the hyperfine constants among the neighboring 13 C nuclear spins.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ground-state properties of light 4 n self-conjugate nuclei in ab initio no-core Monte Carlo shell model calculations with nonlocal N N interactions

We report J π = 0 + ground-state energies and point-proton radii of 4 He, 8 Be, 12 C, 16 O, and 20 Ne nuclei calculated by the ab initio no-core Monte Carlo shell model with the JISP16 and Daejeon16 nonlocal NN interactions. Ground-state energies are obtained in the basis spaces up to seven oscillator shells (N shell =7) with several oscillator energies (ℏω) around the optimal oscillator energy for the convergence of ground-state energies. These energy eigenvalues are extrapolated to obtain estimates of converged ground-state energies in each basis space using energy variances of computed energy eigenvalues. We further extrapolate these energy-variance-extrapolated energies obtained in the finite basis spaces to infinite basis-space results with an empirical exponential form. This form features a dependence on the basis-space size but is independent of the value of ℏω used for the harmonic-oscillator basis functions. Point-proton radii for these states of atomic nuclei are also calculated following techniques employed for the energies. From these results, it is found that the Daejeon16 NN interaction provides good agreement with experimental data up to approximately 16 O, while the JISP16 NN interaction provides good agreement with experimental data up to approximately 12 C. Beyond these nuclei, the interactions produce overbinding accompanied by radii that are too small. These findings suggest and encourage further revisions of nonlocal NN interactions towards the investigation of nuclear structure in heavier-mass regions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Improved structure of calcium isotopes from ab initio calculations

The in-medium similarity renormalization group (IMSRG) is a powerful and flexible many-body method to compute the structure of nuclei starting from nuclear forces. Recent developments have extended the IMSRG from its standard truncation at the normal-ordered two-body level, the IMSRG(2), to a precision approximation including normal-ordered three-body operators, the IMSRG(3)-N 7 . This improvement provides a more precise solution to the many-body problem and makes it possible to quantify many-body uncertainties in IMSRG calculations. We explore the structure of 44,48,52 Ca using the IMSRG(3)-N 7 , focusing on understanding existing discrepancies of the IMSRG(2) to experimental results. We find a significantly better description of the first 2 + excitation energy of 48 Ca, improving the description of the shell closure at N=28. At the same time, we find that the IMSRG(3)-N 7 corrections to charge radii do not resolve the systematic underprediction of the puzzling large charge radius difference between 52 Ca and 48 Ca. We present estimates of many-body uncertainties of IMSRG(2) calculations applicable also to other systems based on the size extensivity of the method.

39 ≤ A ≤ 58↗
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient First-Principles Methodology for the Calculation of the All-Phonon Inelastic Scattering in Solids

Inelastic scattering experiments are key methods for mapping the full dispersion of fundamental excitations of solids in the ground as well as nonequilibrium states. A quantitative analysis of inelastic scattering in terms of phonon excitations requires identifying the role of multiphonon processes. Here, we develop an efficient first-principles methodology for calculating the all-phonon quantum mechanical structure factor of solids. We demonstrate our method by obtaining excellent agreement between measurements and calculations of the diffuse scattering patterns of black phosphorus, showing that multiphonon processes play a substantial role. The present approach constitutes a step towards the interpretation of static and time-resolved electron, x-ray, and neutron inelastic scattering data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Lattice QCD Calculation of the Subtraction Function in Forward Compton Amplitude

The subtraction function plays a pivotal role in calculations involving the forward Compton amplitude, which is crucial for predicting the Lamb shift in muonic atoms, as well as the proton-neutron mass difference. In this Letter, we present a lattice QCD calculation of the subtraction function using two domain wall fermion gauge ensembles near the physical pion mass. We utilize a recently proposed subtraction point, demonstrating its advantage in mitigating statistical and systematic uncertainties by eliminating the need for ground-state subtraction. Our results reveal significant contributions from N⁢π intermediate states to the subtraction function. Incorporating these contributions, we compute the proton, neutron, and nucleon isovector subtraction functions at photon momentum transfer Q 2 ϵ[0,2] GeV 2 . For the proton subtraction function, we compare our lattice results with chiral perturbation theory prediction at low Q 2 and with the results from the perturbative operator-product expansion at high Q 2 . Finally, using these subtraction functions as input, we determine their contribution to two-photon exchange effects in the Lamb shift and isovector nucleon electromagnetic self-energy.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Validating first-principles molecular dynamics calculations of oxide/water interfaces with x-ray reflectivity data

Metal oxide/water interfaces play a crucial role in many electrochemical and photocatalytic processes, such as photoelectrochemical water splitting, the creation of fuel from sunlight, and electrochemical CO 2 reduction. First-principles electronic structure calculations can reveal unique insights into these processes, such as the role of the alignment of the oxide electronic energy levels with those of liquid water. An essential prerequisite for the success of such calculations is the ability to predict accurate structural models of these interfaces, which in turn requires careful experimental validation. Here we report a general, quantitative validation protocol for first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of oxide/aqueous interfaces. The approach makes direct comparisons of interfacial x-ray reflectivity (XR) signals from experimental measurements and those obtained from ab initio simulations with semilocal and van der Waals functionals. The protocol is demonstrated here for the case of the Al 2 O 3 (001)/water interface, one of the simplest oxide/water interfaces. We discuss the technical requirements needed for validation, including the choice of the density functional, the simulation cell size, and the optimal choice of the thermodynamic ensemble. Our results establish a general paradigm for the validation of structural models and interactions at solid/water interfaces derived from first-principles simulations. Furthermore, while there is qualitative agreement between the simulated structures and the experimental best-fit structure, direct comparisons of simulated and measured XR intensities show quantitative discrepancies that derive from both bulk regions (i.e., alumina and water) as well as the interfacial region, highlighting the need for accurate density functionals to properly describe interfacial interactions. Our results show that XR data are sensitive not only to the atomic structure (i.e., the atom locations) but also to the electron-density distributions in both the substrate and at the interface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Structure, electronic and magnetic characterization, and calculated electronic structures of two oxyhalide hexagonal perovskites

Herein we report the crystal structures, initial magnetic and charge transport characterization, and calculated electronic structures of the hexagonal oxyhalide perovskites, Ba 7 Ru 4 O 15 Cl 2 and Ba 7 Ru 4 O 15 Br 2 . The experimental information is obtained through the study of single crystals. Face-sharing Ru O 6 octahedra form Ru 2 O 9 dimers in a layered triangular geometry in these materials; minor amounts of off-magnetic-site structural disorder are present in our crystals. Both are magnetically isotropic, with 2.5 μB/mol-Ru, Curie-Weiss theta –185 K, and 2.9 μB/mol-Ru, Curie-Weiss theta –168 K, respectively. Broad features in the magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity associated with magnetic ordering (at 35 and 37 K, respectively) are observed. The charge transport band gaps are 0.03 eV for the oxychloride and 0.006 eV for the oxybromide. There is no gap at the Fermi level for either of these compounds in density-functional theory electronic structure calculations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ab initio calculations for void swelling bias in α - and δ -plutonium

Void swelling can develop in materials under persistent irradiation when nonequilibrium vacancy and self-interstitial populations migrate under sufficiently asymmetric interaction biases. In conventional metals, the propensity is determined to the first approximation by comparing point-defect relaxation strains. We thus present DFT-based calculations of structures and formation energies and volumes of point defects in the α and the δ phases of plutonium. Here we discuss the pros and cons of various levels of electronic structure theory: spin polarization, spin-orbit coupling, and orbital polarization. Our results show that lattice defects in δ-Pu, in contrast to most fcc metals, have surprisingly small formation volumes. Equally unexpected are the large defect formation volumes found in the low-symmetry α-Pu phase. Both these unusual properties can be satisfactorily explained from defect-induced spin/orbital moment formation and destruction in the Pu phases. Surprisingly, the point defects in α-Pu are found to induce far larger transformation of the local electronic structure than in δ-Pu. When we use the calculated defect properties to estimate the classic void swelling bias in each of the phases, we find it to be unusually small in δ-Pu but likely much larger in α-Pu. Hence, swelling rates and mechanisms can diverge dramatically between the different phases of Pu. Especially in the transient regime before the formation of large defect clusters, the swelling rate of α-Pu can reliably be expected to be much larger than δ-Pu. However, accurate forecasts over longer times will require the conventional void-swelling theory to be modified to handle the complexities presented by the different Pu phases. As a case in point, we show the possible anomalous temperature dependence of vacancy properties in δ-Pu, caused by entropic contributions from defect-induced spin-lattice fluctuations. Such complications may affect defect-defect interactions and thus alter the void swelling bias.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Generalized approach for rapid entropy calculation of liquids and solids

We build a comprehensive methodology for the fast computation of entropy across both solid and liquid phases. The proposed method utilizes a single trajectory of molecular dynamics (MD) to facilitate the calculation of entropy, which is composed of three components. The electronic entropy is determined through the temporal average acquired from density functional theory MD simulations. The vibrational entropy, typically the predominant contributor to the total entropy, even within the liquid state, is evaluated by computing the phonon density of states via the velocity autocorrelation function. The most arduous component to quantify, the configurational entropy, is assessed by probability analysis of the local structural arrangement and atomic distribution. We illustrate, through a variety of examples, that this method is both a versatile and valid technique for characterizing the thermodynamic states of both solids and liquids. Furthermore, this method is employed to expedite the calculation of melting temperatures, demonstrating its practical utility in computational thermodynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Thermodynamics and kinetics of H adsorption and intercalation for graphene on 6 H -SiC(0001) from first-principles calculations

Previous experimental observations for H intercalation under graphene on SiC surfaces motivate the clarification of configuration stabilities and kinetic processes related to intercalation. From first-principles density-functional-theory calculations, we analyze H adsorption and intercalation for graphene on a 6H-SiC(0001) surface, where the system includes two single-atom-thick graphene layers: the top-layer graphene (TLG) and the underling buffer-layer graphene (BLG) above the terminal Si layer. Our chemical potential analysis shows that in the low-H coverage regime (described by a single H atom within a sufficiently large supercell), intercalation into the gallery between TLG and BLG or into the gallery underneath BLG is more favorable thermodynamically than adsorption on top of TLG. However, intercalation into the gallery between TLG and BLG is most favorable. We obtain energy barriers of about 1.3 and 2.3 eV for a H atom diffusing on and under TLG, respectively. From an additional analysis of the energy landscape in the vicinity of a step on the TLG, we assess how readily one guest H atom on the TLG terrace can directly penetrate the TLG into the gallery between TLG and BLG versus crossing a TLG step to access the gallery. Finally, we also perform density functional theory calculations for higher H coverages revealing a shift in favorability to intercalation of H underneath BLG and characterizing the variation with H coverage in interlayer spacings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cross sections and calculated yields of some radionuclides of yttrium, strontium and rubidium formed in proton-induced reactions on enriched strontium-86: possibility of production of 85g Sr, 83 Rb and 82m Rb in no-carrier-added form

Here, cross sections of the 86 Sr(p,3n) 84m Y, 86 Sr(p,αn) 82m Rb, and 86 Sr(p,x) 85g Sr reactions were measured from their respective thresholds up to 16.2 MeV and from 23.0 to 44.1 MeV at FZJ, and from 14.3 to 24.5 MeV at LBNL, using 96.4% enriched 86 SrCO 3 as target material. Thin targets prepared by sedimentation were irradiated with protons in a stacked-form, and the induced radioactivity was measured by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. Nuclear model calculations based on the code TALYS reproduced our experimental cross section data well. From the excitation functions, the integral yields of the above three radionuclides were calculated. The yield of 85g Sr via the natSr(n,γ) process was also measured using the TRIGA Mark-II reactor at AERE, Savar. A comparison of the reactor and cyclotron production of carrier-added 85g Sr is given. The production possibilities of the three investigated radionuclides in no-carrier-added forms at a 30 MeV cyclotron via new routes are discussed.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗